Former Newcastle Advertiser photographer and later general manager, Dave van Rensburg, passed away two weeks ago, leaving a void in the lives of his community, friends and, most importantly, his family.

Current and former Caxton Northern KwaZulu-Natal employees remember Dave as an all-round good man, a dedicated leader and someone who firmly believed in the importance of the newspaper industry.

He always ensured that the newspaper ran as smoothly as possible.

Northern KwaZulu-Natal Regional Editor Rod Skinner said he remembers Dave fondly, describing him as a man of integrity who constantly inspired his colleagues to strive for excellence.

“He was truly a great boss to work for and I believe everyone aspired to be like him,” he said.

Former general manager George Meyer, who succeeded Dave as general manager of Caxton Northern KwaZulu-Natal in 2000, recalls numerous encounters with Dave and said he was always an honest, hard-working and dependable man, even long after leaving the Newcastle Advertiser offices.

Current Caxton Northern KwaZulu-Natal Regional Manager Tanya Ferreira also remembers working under Dave and described him as selfless, genuine and hard-working.

A career built on dedication

Dave’s son, Eugene van Rensburg, honoured him in a heartfelt tribute, remembering the man who was his hero, who taught him invaluable life lessons and the true meaning of family.

He said his father believed that no task was too great, no challenge too big and no effort should ever be spared, regardless of the obstacles in his path.

According to Eugene, his father was known for always going the extra mile for the business, his colleagues and his family.

“He would often say that if you give a good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, it will always come back to you in the same measure,” said Eugene.

He recalled occasions when his father worked for two consecutive nights to ensure that the Newcastle Advertiser was published on time whenever problems arose.

Dave began his career at the Newcastle Advertiser in the mid-1960s, helping his good friend Duncan by taking photographs, developing them and eventually producing the printing blocks for the letterpress operation.

“He was an avid photographer who loved covering events such as fires, floods and tornadoes, as well as taking advertising photographs for retailers, including Game, before advertising inserts became common,” said Eugene.

Through his dedication and hard work, Dave was promoted to works manager and later general manager under the ownership of Dennis Pope and, later, George Hill.

He remained general manager after Caxton acquired the newspaper group in the mid-1980s, eventually overseeing the entire Northern KwaZulu-Natal group, which included the Newcastle Advertiser, Ladysmith Gazette, Vryheid Herald, Dundee Courier and Volksrust Recorder.

Dave handed the reins to George Meyer in 2000 when he reached retirement age.

However, his journey with Caxton did not end there. He continued working for the company as part of the printing press rebuilding and maintenance team based at Boshpick Engineering.

At Boshpick, the team rebuilt King Press printing presses installed across the country.

“Dad was committed to maintaining the highest possible printing standards for local community newspapers. He did this for around 10 years before finally retiring at the age of 75,” Eugene said.

In total, Eugene said his father dedicated around 40 years to the Caxton group and always treated the business as though it were his own.

Remembering a man of many passions

Dave was also an avid reader and was rarely without one or more books, usually on scientific or technology-related subjects.

“His general knowledge was remarkable and he could speak in detail on a wide range of fascinating topics,” said Eugene.

He also described his father as someone who lived by strong Christian values and was always willing to help those in need.

“Mom often had to accept the unexpected consequences of his generosity, even when it was not always easy. I remember one evening when he picked up a down-and-out hitch-hiker who ended up staying with us for quite some time before eventually continuing on his journey,” said Eugene.

Aside from reading and running the newspaper, Dave was also a passionate motorcycle enthusiast.

Eugene said there were always motorbikes and quad bikes on their farm, which family and friends thoroughly enjoyed.

“It brought him immense joy to welcome loved ones to the farm, where they could spend time together and create lasting memories,” he concluded.

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